Apparatus for making glass building blocks



July 11, 1944 J. H. WILLIAMS .2,353,532

` APPARATUS FOR MAKING GLASS BLAIIILDINGv BLOCKS Filed Deo. 20, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN1/Emmi ATTORNEY Jul)'111944. J. H. WILLIAMS l 2,353,532

APPARATUS FOR MAKING GLASS BUILDING BLOCKS Filed ne. 2o, 19:57 3 sheets-sheet 2 l l l 6 5 INVENToR.- @fas z'aL H w Z @211226, /0 CE-p c* l ATTORNEY I APPARATUS FOR MAKING GLASS BUILDING BLOCKS Filed Dec. 20, 1937 -5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Illa-1 5 ATTORNEY Patented July 1l, 1944 y OFFICE APPARATUS FOR MAKING GLASS BUILDING VBLOCKS Y Josiah H. Williams, Baltimore, Md. ApplicationDecember 20, 1937, Serial No. 180,875

9 Claims.

rJlhis invention relates to an apparatus for making glass building blocks, particularly hollow glass building blocks, and similar glass articles. y i

i In the manufacture of hollow glass vbuilding bricks orblocks of the class to which my invention relates, it has been the general practice to mold half sections of the blocks, and, after removal of such half sections from their molds, to either cement or to weld the mating surfaces of two half block sections together to form a block unit. Such block sections to be united are usually one or both recessed to provide in the formed block a chamberor` cavity in which a `partial vacuum may be produced after the block isformed by exhaustingv air from the block and then sealing the opening through Which the air is exhausted, or by exhaust of air during the step of uniting the block sections, due to the cooling and rarefaction of the previously heated air contained in the recess or recesses and conned in the closed chamber or cavity formed thereby by the sealing action when the block sections are united. y, y

These block sections formed in the.A manner described coolto amore or less extent from exposure on their removal from vthe molds' and must be reheated to a greater or less extent at least at the surfaces to be welded in order that they may be of a proper temperature to be united by the kind of cement employed or of aproper temperature and plasticity for a welding union. The glass charges of which these half blocks are formed may be drawn by different means orat different times from a glass source, or` drawn fi formed'ofrsections which are imperfectly heated for properunion, or non-uniformly heated at the time of union, unduly delayed in annealing, or formed of glass portions of different stratification orcoefiiciencies of expansion and `contraction, so that they are liable to fracture while being handled or in service, with resulting large losses due to imperfect manufacture or breakage. Blocks so formed are also liable to imperfections or structural differences obscuring or preventing goodI insulating properties and good light transmission or diffusion, whichcit is desirable such blocks should have. In addition, owing to the number of steps required in the manufacture of glass bricks or blocks as customarily made the cost of manufacture is comparatively high. This high cost of manufacture, plus losses due to waste and imperfect block produced,V and'stru'ctural weaknesses ofy the blocks produced from the causes mentioned, are factors of importance to manufacturers as constituting obstacles to the production of satisfactory blocks and `use'of such blocks on a more extensive scale'.

Another serious disadvantage 'to the manufacture of hollow glass blocks formed 'of sections united at a high temperaturev by cementing or welding is the great diiliculty in makingA the blocks vacuum tight or proof against the entrance of air and foreign substances. When two such highly heated block sections are brought together for the purpose of uniting the mating surfaces by cementing or fusion, the air confined in and betweenthe block sections and expanded by the heat thereof Seeks to escape and blows out between the mating surfaces, frequentlycausing irregularities in the mating surfaces preventing the formationof a perfect joint or producing in the formed block at or in the region of the joint small crevices or pin holes notfsealed in the cementing or Welding action. When such pin holes or crevices exist air will be allowed toen'tler the blockfthus preventing the formation or maintef nance of'a vacuum therein,v and dust and other impurities by aspiration or otherwisewill enter the .block to soil or discolor the `interior of the block and to interferevwitrh its light' transmitting or diffusing properties. y j s One` object ofkmyinvention is to provide an lapparatuswhereby `such half "blocks may be formediand united to produce complete blocks without resulting objections of such character.V

Another object of my invention is to provide an apparatus whereby such half blocks may formed and united in a ready, expeditious and economical manner. 4

Still'another'object of my invention" is to'gprvide an apparatus wherebyhollw building blocks or-other articles of ilne quality and goodfinsulating and light transmitting `qualities,v and which are noteasily subject to fracture, maybe easilyand quickly produced.` A Still another object of my inventioni'sto provide an apparatus bymeans of which perfectly formed half blocks to be united may bevsi'multaneously produced fromglass ofthe samt-Eltern"- perature and quality, whereby twosuch-blocks may be accurately joined, and whereby' re'heating ployed may be dispens'edwith. y Still another object of the invention is to prof vide an apparatus whereby the half block secand other steps of manufactureE comrrionly4 emmanner as to ensure the production of a strong, and tight joint, absolutely sealed against the en# trance of air and dust or otherjforeign substances.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple, easily operated andinexpensive type of apparatus for carrying theinvention into practical effect.

In the accompanying drawings exempliiica tively showing one means for carrying the method into practice- Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation.V of the form.m ing apparatus, showing the forming molds in normal or receiving position andthe forming plungers retracted.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, with parts in section,l

showing the simultaneous pressing action.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing the molds swung upwardly to block sections uniting position. g Y f Y Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Fig'. v

Fig. 5 is a viewrshowing the molds swung to vertical position and the relative position ,they

occupy at the beginning'of theirhorizontal travel toward each other to unite'the block sections, such position being also the position they occupy when slid apart horizontally-after `formation of Athe block to release the block. v v

Fig. 5a is a section online 5oz-75a of Fig. 1.

Figs.` 6 to 13, inclusive, are schematic views illustrating the steps of the method. i

. Fig. 14 vis a'perspective view of( one of the completed blocks, a part of the block being shown broken away.r f s The apparatus shown herein for carrying the invention into practice comprisesa frame having a lower supporting portion or table I and an upper supporting portion 2. Mounted on the lower supporting portion or table I are two opposed and adjacently disposed mold holders 3each adapted to receive a mold 4, which molds may be generally of counterpartv character for lthe formation of generally similar half block sections. Each holder 3 is provided with a. mold receiving chamber orcavity lopen at its top or uppergside to permit of the introduction and'removalof thef mold 4 designed to be fitted therein, whichV mold is preferably of somewhat greater d epth than the depth of the holder chamber. Suitablemeans may be provided in practiceV to removably secure each mold in its holder and to enable each mold to be applied, removed and handled with facility,y such for example as a manipulatingdevice adapted to be Vremovably engagedwith the mold.'y By this means moldswith different sizes and shapes of forming cavities maybe interchangeably used in connection with the same holders for the production of blocks varying inV size, form and appearance orVv external configuration.`

The mold holders 3gare provided upon their walls which Vlieopposite Veach other when the molds are arranged'finhorizontal charge receiving position with lugs or projections 5 terminating in hinge knuckles 'or eyes by which they a?? pivotally connected by pintle rods or snaits 6 with hinge knuckles or eyes on supporting. blocks or j land 12, asv more particularly hereinafter described. The backs of the holders Bare provided with ribs or projections 9 to snugly t within rec'eiving and guide openings I0 in the table when supporting the molds in charge receiving position,

vving ycharging and molding actions.

whereby the molds are firmly backed and held from any possibility of horizontally shifting dur- The mold holders and molds may be moved between the pos'itions described by any suitable type of actuating mechanism, that shown in the present instance comprising curved link members II normally arranged beneath the table and attached at their upper ends to the mold holders and at their lower ends to the diverging or fork arms I2 kofan actuating rod I3. This rod I3 may receive motion from any suitable operating means, but is indicated in the present instance as forming a piston rod which may be connected to a piston head operating in a cylinder I3B-. This conveniently may be a compressed air cylinder supplied with compressed air from any suitable source, the supply `and exhaust of air being controlled in practice by suitable valve mechanism whereby the up and down movements of the piston in the cylinder may be controlled. On their upward and downward movements the links il move through the rguide openingsy Ill` to move the mold holders from charging and molding position to compressing position, and vice versa. ToY allow greater ease of operation with less power in these actions the weight of the mold holders Vand molds may be suitably counterbalanced by counterbalancing means applied to the mold holders or pintle shafts. Suitable guiding means for guiding the mold holders in their movements may also be provided, that shown in the present instance for the purpose comprising a rigid guide plate vI4 xed'to the table at one side of the mold holders and provided with .a grooved or slotted guideway I4' to receive guide pins or projections la on the mold holders. These guide elements may be duplicated at the opposite side of the mold holders if desired.

The mold holders when v moved upwardly to compressing position will have a preliminary traverse and a final traverse. In their preliminary traverse upwardly the holders will swing for the greater portion of their movement through an arc ontheir pintles from the horizontal position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to a vertical' gaging position shown in Fig. 5, whereby theV half block sections in the molds are centered for accurate alinement and engagement of their surfaces toV be welded. From this point the holders 'will have a iinal traverse in which the vertical translatory motion of the links is converted in'hori'zontal motion of the mold holders on and with the sliding blocks 1, on which movement the molds are brought to the compressing position shown in Fig. 3, ensuring a straight horizontal compressing action and an accurate welding of the opposed-surfaces of the half block sections under more or less pressure. On the downward motion of thelinks will have a preliminary outward or separating traverse back from the position shown in Fig. Sto

therewith.

that shown in Fig. 5, followed by an arcuate swinging movement and return to horizontal vposition. The effect of this horizontal preliminary traverse of the holders Von retraction is to allow the molds to move apart on a straight line a sucient distance to completely release the `welded block, thus providing for release of the block without liability of injury thereto. Each mold 4 has a cavity I5 therein of a suitable shape to form a. half block I6. These half'blocks are designed to be formed in the mold cavities by forming plungers I 'Iy carried by rods I8 connected to pistons operating in cylinders I9 vmounted on the upper frame portion 2. The pistons may be operated by compressed air or other fluid underpressure, as is common in molding apparatus f this type. Y Each plunger rod IB has Xed thereto'a supporting disk or head 26 which is :apertured for passage there,- through of sliding rods or bolts y2| limited in down-ward movement by `nuts or stop members 22 and flxedly carrying at their lower ends a cover plate or head 23 whichis` apertured for the passage of the plunger Il and is designed to cover the open top of the mold, except for the opening through which the plunger is movable, during the molding or pressing action. Encircling the rods 2| are coiled springs 24 which when the head 23 comes incontact with the top of the mold on the descent of the plunger allow the head 20 to descend with the plunger as the` latter moves into the mold chamber, during which the springs are placed under tension to return the head 23 to nor# mal position at the close of the molding operation and movement of the plunger upward toits normally retracted position, The hinge knuckles 5 are provided with abutment surfaces 5a to rest on the blocks l' when the molds are swung to vertical positions, whereby the swinging movements of the molds are limited and their further swinging imovements beyond the vertical are Vprevented when the molds are brought to parallel vertical positions, in which they are spaced apart a predetermined distance by the spacing of the blocks 'I, and whereby they are adaptedto be stably supported on the `blocks l'I for sliding `movements Each naif block It, as shown. is formed of an outer or face wall and boundary wallsv enclosing la cavity therein which is open on the side of the half block opposite the face wall.- Two such half blocks when formed are designed to be disposed with their open sides facing each other and then to be brought together, while in a suitably plastic condition, so that the 'edge portions of their walls at their open sides will be united by fusion under suitable pressure to produce the complete hollow block 25 shown in Fig. 14, in which 26 indicates the fused joint between the block sections. This `complete block, which may be of rectangular, oblong rectangularor otherl .suitable form, has the face walls of-theiblock sections of which itl has been formed facing in opposite directions and the blockisprovided with a closed chamber or` cavity I 6. This chamber or cavity may be partly evacuated, that is to say, contain dry, rareedv air, due

to cooling and rarefaction of the `air `afterthe block sections are united, or otherwiseproduced, so as to give the block good light transmitting and thermal insulatingproperties. In' addition,v the faces of the block may besuitably ornamented and provided with light diiliusing or other light controlling or transmitting surfaces, and the walls of the block between its vfaces may be provided with any desired or preferred type of bonding surface.

posed in the receiving position shown in Fig. 1 are supplied with charges of glass, in which posi'- tion the molds rest solidly upon the supporting table I, the plungers I1 are operatedto cause them to enter the molds and to-simultaneously form in said molds two half block sections to be united. `Upon the retraction of the plungers I1 the molds are then swung upwardly through an arc on a preliminary traverse to the vertical position shown in Figs. 5 and 1-1, thus bringing the open sides of; the molds opposite each other and the mating surfaces of the block sections therein into accurate registry and in such position .relative toeach other than `on a iinal horizontaltraverse ofthe molds toward' each other such surfaces, i. e., theiedges of the walls at the open sides of the' block/sections, will be'Abrought in contact, as shown in Figs. 3 and 12 and united underl suitable pressure'so as to cause a homogeneous bond between them A complete block is thus produced which will be automatically stripped or separated from the molds upon the preliminary horizontal outward movementof the molds relative to each other back from the position shown in Figs. 3 and 12 to that shown in Figs. 5 and l1, prior to their arcuate swing back to their normal receiving position. As the molds separate the block is exposed and may be suitably sustained in position and supported during its period of release by suitable supporting and handling means a. The supportmg and-;handling means may be a pair of hand tongs orymay comprise a plate or paddle held, as shown yin Fig. 13, under the block to support the same while the mold sections are being opened or moved apart. The formed block may then be submitted to annealing and any other actions necessary to prepare it for commercial sale and for use.

It will be understood that after the Imolds disvof the hahc section -In `order to ensure the reliable and certain fusion of the block sections together, each mold chamber I5 is made of a depthless than the depth I6 whichris to` be formed there in and provision is made in the form of a neck ring 2'! onthelplate 23=for the production of a forming recess 28 aboutthe forming plunger at the forming. period whereby lthe-boundary walls ofv the block section at theopen side thereof will be projected beyond Vthe mold face in the form of welding extensicns=29 continuous with and projecting outwardly in the planes of the mold walls. Thus when the plunger I'I and neck rings 2l are retracted the portions 29 of the formed half sections in the mold will project beyond the faces of the mold, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, so that they may be brought together to unite the welding eX- tensions under anyr degree of movement orrcompression required or found to be necessary in this operation, Bythis means any possible forming irregularities or'variations in the surfaces of the half `blocks to be joined may be compensated for and the block sections compressed lor squeezed together to any extent-necessary `to effect their absolute and 'perfect welding union.` An advantage accruing from this vmethodof forming and joining the halflblock Asections Ais that such secn tions may not only be joined while the half sections are still `inthe molds, but at a time while they are still heated to a suiciently high degree and are of a properly plastic state 4to be fused together Without further or additional heating. A

still further advantage accruing from this method of forming and joining the block sections is that while the enclosed portions ofthe block sections portions 29 of the block sections willbe ata higher heatand degreeof plasticity or maybe readily heated by auxiliary heating means if desired so that lthey may be joined in the most effective manner Icy-bringing them together under suitable ypressure to 'homogeneously unite the block sections and to form a jointl proof against the leakage of air into the vacuum space so that a high vacuum therein may be maintained. It `will be understood, of course, that the Iwalls-of the mold chamber and walls of the block sections formed thereby are suitably shaped inA practic'to facilitate separation Aofthe molds vfrom the formed block'durin'g'movement of the molds apart 'at the closeV of a block forming action. The neck ring 21 'is detachably secured in position' by screws or other fastening means 21 so vthat neck rings of different sizes or forming shapesmay be used in forming dieren't sized or specifically different shaped articles. A still further advantage oi so forming the block sections of greater depths than the mold cavities and mounting the molds for the sliding movements described is that the depths of the mold cavities for Vforming any particular sized block may be decreased and the molds correspondingly reduced in size and weight, allowing them to be operated with greater ease and facility.

It is desirable to form the half block sections in the molds in such manner as to avoid any tendency to sagging of block walls when the molds are turned to vertical position. If the cavities inthe molds are so arranged, for example,rthat`two of the block sides are Vertical and the other block sides horizontal when the mold is turned to a vertical position, there may be a tendency of the uppermost horizontally disposed walls of the half blocks to sag under their weight while still in a plastic condition, thus forming half blocks which are not absolutely true and which might cause diiflculty in joining two such half blocks together. In order to automatically avoid this objection I dispose the cavities in the molds so that' the half blocks will be formed in a cornerwise manner,

that is, so that the sides of the block sections will be inclined at oblique angles to the vertical when the molds are'brought from a forming toY an upright position. These inclined ywalls thus -actto mutually stay or brace each other and to prevent sagging of the boundary walls of the block'sections. Block lsections of absolutely true shape may thus be formed whose surfaces will be abso- "lutely in alinement for 'fusion' when the block sections are brought together.

Figs.' 6 to 1l, inclusive, show schematically the method oi' forming and uniting two block sections to form a block'of the structure shown in Fig. 12. In the rst operation shown in Fig. 6 two gobs or gathers 30 of glass of the proper amount are deposited in themold chamber I5,'into which said gobs or gathers settle as shown in Fig, '7. Fig. 8 shows the forming step by the action of the plungers and neck ring whereby the two half block sections` Yare simultaneously formed in the molds. Fig. 9 is'a plan view and Fig. 10'is a sectional View showing the plungers withdrawn and the half blocks as formed in the molds in readiness to be united. It will be observed that these block sections are `provided `with fusing portions or projections 29 extending beyond the open sides or mouths of the mold. Fig. 11 shows the molds ,swung upwardly on their initial traverse to verticalpos'ition to bring the projections 29 of the block sections into accurate register and in readiness to be united by fusion or while they are still in a plastic condition on the nal horizontal traverse of the molds to the welding position shown in Fig. '12. Fig. 13 shows the outward horizontal movement of the molds to block releasing position allowing the block to be removed without injury therefrom. Fig. 14 shows the completed block removed-'from the molds. It will loe obvious that by this manner of forming and uniting the block sections the necessity of reheating the block sections, with its attendant disadvantages is rendered unnecessary and the number of steps of 4manufacture reduced, while at the same time a superior type of block is produced. Y

In gathering the gobs 30 and'feeding the molds, I preferably provide means'in the form of'a unitary gathering device for simultaneously gathering two 'gobs and simultaneously depositing said gobs in two forming and compressing molds.' The means employed for this purpose as shown comprises a gathering tool comprising a pair of punties 32 arranged in parallel relation to each other and in properly spaced relation and mounted upon a carrier head or support 33 in which the punties are journaled for rotation. The punties are adapted to be manipulated by means of a pilot handle 34 arranged on or forming part of a shaft 35 coupled by suitable gearing 36 to the punties 32 whereby the latter may be properly rotated during the gathering action. The multiple gatherer here shown may be a two punty type of gathering tool ofthe general structure disclosed in my apllications Serial Nos. 154,662, now Patent No. l2,247,424, granted July 1, 1941, and 167,047, now Patent No.' 2,250,515, granted July 29, 1941, or of any other. suitable type. While other gathering means for the purpose may be employed, and while the charges may be gathered separately from the same or different sources of supply, it will be seen that by the use of this gatherer 'charges of glass of exactly the same consistency, temperature and other conditions may be gathered at the same time and simultaneously deposited into the molds, thus charging the molds with glass not Vonly `of the same temperature but of other essential characteristics for the production at one and the same time of two half block sections to be joined which will be formed of glass of identical qualities. The resulting.v block formed'fromthese half block sections will therefore be composed of portions 'of glass of like coeiiciencies of expansion and contraction and of equal degrees of strength'. Such a block will be of uniform wall thickness, better light transmitting and diffusion qualities, kand less liable to fracture under expansion, contraction and other stresses than blocks formed in the ordinary way. I do' not, however,l desire toV be confined to this particularmethod of charging the molds or to the use of such particular tool, except when expressly confined theretoin particular claims.

It Vmay lbe desirable under some conditions to exert a heavy squeezing pressure'on the formed half blocks, after the molds have been moved to vertical' or half-block uniting position, in order that the block surfaces 29 may be pressed together to close all possible voids and to ensure the formation of `an absolutely homogeneous and compa'ctly welded joint. The horizonta1 traverse of the molds in the welding action allows this to be done and any desired amount of squeezing pressure to be exertedl by varying 'the extent of this traverse, either through controlling the range of vmovement of the piston in cylinder I4 or by using a xed range of piston motion and providing means for adjusting and varying the effective -length ofthe piston rod I 3, for which purpose said rodmay be formed of together.

. In` practice,` onel or two' pairsof molds, each in association with a press,may be advantageoussections adjustably coupled ly used on each side ofthe gathering opening, i..e;., i

one pair at each side ,ofV the platformpnwhich the feeder operator or` operators stand which,` pairs t may bealternately and successively suppliedwith in the previously charged molds may be allowed to cool in the molds to a temperature suitable for annealing. By this means production speed may be increased, as one block may be formedand be allowed to cool to amost advantageous temperature for annealing in one pair of molds while the steps of charging the other pair of molds and forming another block therein are being-,carried out. This will allow ample time for a block to Cool within its molds to such degree as to prevent its distortion from its molded shape which would occur if the block were removed too soon, `whereby blocks of proper shape and of a uniform temperature suitable for annealing may be produced, which is impossible where the half sectionsiare formed at intervals apart and united by other molds. It is also to be understood that two pairs of molds and presses may be placed at each side of the platform, in which event two feeder operators gathering and feeding alternately may be employed, one to feedthe molds at one side ofthe platform and the other to feed the molds atv the opposite side of the platform, each workmanV feeding one pair of molds while the articles formed are preliminarily cooling in the otherV pair of molds of the same set. With such arrangement of molds and presses constant feed and molding actions without loss of time between them is possible. It will, however, be understood that` other Suitable methods of and means for feeding glass to the molds may be employed.. j l

Other advantages of the invention reside inthe inexpensive construction of`-the molds, asrsecv tional molds withhingres are unnecessary.mf,,'l`he molds may also be of one-piece type, or .formed of plates'or half sections, which maybe easily placed in i or removed fromI the-mold holders. This permitsof the formation and use 4of molds of different sizes,` styles or designs formed `of in'- terchangeable sections, and which mayfbetted in the same holders, thereby eliminating'the expense of a plant carrying a complete complement of individual molds of diiTerent sizes, styles and designs, as required in customary practice.`

From the foregoing description, taken in connection withV the drawings, my improved apparatus for making vglass building .blocks of the character described will be readily understood and ift will be seen that the invention provides an apparatus whereby hollow glass blocks of "superior qualitie's may be easily, quickly' and economically made. It will further be seen that the invention provides a; simple, easily operated and efficient type of apparatus for carrying the invention into practical eifect.

While the construction of apparatus herein disclosed is preferred, it will, of course, be understood that modifications of the steps and changes in the form, proportions and construction of parts of the apparatus may be made within the scope of the appended claims 'without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

, WhatIclaimis: C

, 1; An apparatus fforivmakingha vhollow glass block formed of sections joined `together comprising a pair of molds having forming cavities therein for the reception of glass charges fromwhich the article sections arev to'be pressed, said molds beingA normally arranged horizontally side by side in spaced relation to each other with the mouths of the mold cavities opening-through their normally upper sides for the. reception of the glass charges and the pressingof the same therein, normally spaced sliding mold supporting members slidable toward and from each other, means pivotally connecting adjacent sides of the molds to the sliding supporting members, whereby the molds maybe swung from their normal horizontalv positions to vertical positions resting on the members for sliding movements therewith, and operating means for swinging the molds and sliding the molds and supporting members.

2. An apparatus for making a hollow glass block or the like article formed of sections joined together comprising aA pair oi molds having forming cavities therein for the reception of glass charges from whichV the article .sections are to be pressed, `said molds being normally arranged horizontally side by side in spaced relation to each other with the mouths of the mold cavities opening through their normally upper ,sides for the reception of the glass charges and the pressing of the same therein, supporting -means mounting the molds for sliding movements in a horizontal plane toward and from each other and pivotally mounting the molds for swinging movements from their horizontal positions to spaced vertical positions and vice versa, from and toward which the vertically disposed molds are slidably movable, a power operated member having opposite working strokes, and links connecting. saidmember tothe molds and movable by and in one stroke' direction of the member to `iirst swing the molds upwardly to spaced apart vertical positions andthen slide them horizontally toward each other to bring the edges of the article sections into Contact and movable by and in the other stroke direction of the member to first slide` the molds horizontally Vapart for the. release of the `formed article-and then swing the molds back to horizontal position. 3. ,An apparatus for making `a hollow` glass block or like article formed of sections joined ,to-

Agether comprising a pair of'moldvs having forming cavities therein for the reception of glass charges from which the article sections are to be pressed, said molds being normally arranged horizon-tally side by sidein spacedrelation to each other with the mouths of the -mold cavities opening through their normally upper sides for the reception of the glass charges and the pressing of the same therein, a supporting table on which the molds rest when in their horizontal positions, normally spaced supporting members on the table slidable horizontally toward and fromeach other, means pivotally connecting adjacent sides of the molds to therespective sliding supporting members, said members and pivotal connections mounting the molds for sliding movements toward and from each other and for swinging movements from their normal horizontal positions to parallel vertical positions and vice versa, operating means coupled to the molds for swinging them upwardly to vertical positions on their pivotal connections and then sliding them toward each other with said supporting members, said operating means being operable to reverse such order of movements of the molds and supports. v

4, In an apparatus for makingfhollow glass blocks" orllike 'articles formed'of-s'ections joined togethen'the-combination of a pair of spaced normallyhorizontally disposed molds in which V"thea'rticle sectionsare formed, a pair of normally supports-being such that in their verticallydisposed-positions the molds'andsurfaces of the formed v'article `sections therein' which are to be joined-are spaced apart-and said surfaces of the Y article sections brought into position for a registering action and to join them together on a horizontal movement of the molds toward each other, and means forl swinging I said molds on their pivotal connections and sliding them conjointly with the supports. Y

5. An apparatus for making a hollow glass block or like article formed of sections joined to- Vgether comprising a pair of molds for forming the article sections, said moldsV being normally arranged side by side in horizontally spaced relationship, supporting means mounting the molds for swinging movements to spaced substantially parallel vertical positions and return Vto normal positions therefrom and also mounting said molds in their spaced parallel vertical positions for sliding travel toward and from each other, and mechanism for so swinging and sliding the molds including power operated means and combined reciprocatory and swinging motion transmitting elements disposed between and connecting the same with the molds.

yo. An apparatus for making a hollow glass block or like article formed of -sections joined together comprising a pair of molds for forming the article sections, said molds being normal-ly arranged side by side in horizontally spaced-relationship, normally spaced sliding mold supporting members slidable toward and from each other, means pivotally connecting'adjacentsides of the molds to the sliding supporting members to adapt the molds to be swung from their normal positions to substantially parallel vertical positions and tor rest upon and to be supported by and-for sliding travel insuch positions vwith Isaid supporting members, and mechanism for swinging themolds and sliding the molds and supporting members including power operated means and combined reciprocatory and swinging motion transmitting members disposed between and connecting the same with the molds.

7. An apparatus for making a hollow glass block or like article formed of sections welded together comprising a pair of molds having forming cavities therein for the reception of `glass charges from 'which the article sections are to be pressed, said molds being normally arranged horizontally side by side in spaced relation to each other with the mouths of the mold cavities openingth'rough their normally open sides for the reception ofthe glass charges and the pressing of the same therein, supporting means having slidable means for each mold positioned between the molds and pivotal means interconnecting each mold with its slidable means, and operating means coupled to the molds for swinging them upwardly from their horizontal positions to spaced vertical positions and then sliding them toward each other, said operating means being operable to reverse the order of movements of the molds.

8. An apparatus for making a hollow glass block formed of sections welded together comprising a pair of molds having angular forming cavities therein for the reception of glass charges from which the article sections are to be pressed, said molds being normally arranged horizontally side by side in spaced relation to each other with the mouths of the mold cavities opening through their normally upper sides for the reception of the glass charges Vand the pressing of the same therein, said mold cavities being so arranged that their sides will be inclined to the vertical when the molds are disposed in a vertical pos-ition, supporting means pivotally mounting said molds for oscillating movements between their normal horizontal positions and spaced parallel vertical positions and also slidably mounting the molds in their spaced vertical positions for horizontal straight line travel toward and from each other, Yand operating means coupled to the molds for swinging them upwardly from their horizontal positions to spaced vertical positions and then sliding them toward each other, said operating means being operable to reverse such order of movements of the molds.

9. An apparatus for making a hollow glass block or like article formed of sections having edge portions designed to be welded together comprising a'pair of molds having forming cavities therein for the reception of glass charges from which the article sections are to be pressed, said molds being normally arranged horizontally side by side in spaced relation to each other with the mouthsy of the mold cavities opening through their normally upper sides for the reception or" the glass chargesand the pressing of the same therein, supporting means pivotally mounting the molds `for oscillating movements between their normal horizontal positions and spaced parallel Vertical positions and also slidably mounting the molds in their spaced vertical positions for horizontal straight line travel toward and from each other, guiding means for guiding the molds in both their swinging and sliding movements, and reciprocatory and swinging power operated means connected to the molds for swinging the molds upwardly from their horizontal positions 'l to spaced vertical positions and then sliding ,them l toward each other, said means being operableto reverse such order of movementsof the moldsf Josmrrri. WILLIAMY y 

